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| Innovation week 2026 |
Vodacom Tanzania Plc has entered into a three-year partnership with Bridge for Billions, a global entrepreneurship network, with the goal of strengthening the entrepreneurship ecosystem and increasing growth opportunities for startups in Tanzania.
Through this initiative, implemented under the Vodacom Digital Accelerator (VDA), entrepreneurship support organizations in the country will be empowered to enhance their capacity to help business founders grow and expand their operations.
The partnership aims to reach more than 1,000 entrepreneurs and support over 40 businesses to grow and scale over a three-year period.
Unlike previous phases where VDA focused primarily on directly supporting startups, this program will now also invest in organizations that support entrepreneurs, including business incubators and accelerators, universities, entrepreneurship hubs, and business development organizations.
Through this partnership, Bridge for Billions will bring expertise in startup incubation and acceleration programs, digital technologies, as well as capacity building for organizations serving entrepreneurs.
Selected organizations will receive specialized training and will be enabled to use various Bridge for Billions tools and platforms, along with receiving support in designing and running entrepreneurship programs.
Additionally, these organizations will be connected to a global network of mentors and institutions that support entrepreneurs, a step aimed at enabling the exchange of experiences, knowledge, and partnership opportunities.
Entrepreneurs identified through these organizations will go through a specialized incubation and business growth process. Businesses that demonstrate strong growth potential will proceed to the acceleration stage, where they will receive more in-depth support in business expansion and preparation for investment opportunities.
The Vodacom Digital Accelerator was established in 2019 and has been supporting startups and growing businesses that use technology to create products and services capable of reaching wider markets.
Through this program, entrepreneurs have been receiving training, professional mentorship, technology, opportunities to connect with investors, and access to Vodacom's networks and partners.
The program has previously supported entrepreneurs operating in various sectors, including health, agriculture, education, and financial services.
Through this new partnership, Vodacom and Bridge for Billions aim to make Tanzania have a stronger ecosystem for nurturing and empowering entrepreneurs, while increasing the capacity of startups to grow and contribute to the economy.
The first cohort of organizations to participate in the program is expected to be announced in October 2026, while applications for entrepreneurs are expected to open at the end of September 2026.